Unfortunately, we can't hold people dropping out of band against them, but Sax Mumsy makes a good point. I didn't start playing sports frequently until college, and that's still very casual (pick-up games of basketball, etc.). Staying in band worked out great, and I'm much more athletic at 21 than I was at 16.

Our high school loses half their band people during freshman year, usually in the Fall. The band director & booster club want to be #1 in the state and anyone not that fanatical drops for either money reasons ($460 in fees plus a new sax and school hasn't even started! And there are hints they will be demanding more.) or time conflicts/wanting a life outside marching. There is no alternative band class, so students who are not rich or superstars just get forced out of music.

Being number one does NOT require a new sax!!! Several "old" saxophones have better sound than many of the new horns. Plus, I would hope that any dedicated musician with decent skills would be eligible for a scholarship for those fees... But then, your band director may be more interested in image than in sound. If so, I pity that director and your band.

I was unclear - the 'new' sax was actually a Shooting Stars Conn made in USA (good old student horn). We needed a cosemtically challenged horn because the band director wanted everyone to set their instruments on the PAVEMENT. The band director's response to parent protests was: 'Just go buy another 'beater' instrument for marching.' Since my son wanted to switch to Tenor, we got another horn. While the Conn was a smaller investment than the Yamaha Alto, we weren't too keen on the Conn getting banged up either. I finally made a canvas pad in the school colors for him to throw on the ground during breaks. The band leader hasn't objected yet. Sorry - No scholarships in HighSchool. :-( At this school the adults in charge are more interested in Marching trophies than in music. And the parents are regarded as endless cash fountains. On the upside, my son has already made some good friends in band (Oh yeah, we don't call it 'band' - it is 'regiment'). Maybe next year the guys can defect from the school regiment and form their own garage band.